They are not backing down.
In an interview with NPR on Friday (January 7), Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Select Committee tasked with investigating the Capitol Riot, indicated the committee planned to request former Vice President Mike Pence talk to the committee of his own accord.
As the committee continues to investigate actions taken before the Capitol was breached and the day of its breach, the panel has taken an interest in Pence’s role in the event.
In the days leading up to the siege, Trump had encouraged Pence to reject the election results from several states, as he claimed there was widespread voter fraud.
Pence’s refusal to follow through with these requests has made his appearance before the committee critical, with Thompson pointing out that considering Pence’s “respect for the law, there were people who came to the Capitol a year ago wanting to hang him.” The committee chair also added that “for no other reason” the committee needed to hear the former Vice Presidents’ opinions on the Jan. 6 riot, saying that they would make the request before the end of the month.
This public declaration coincides with the committee’s plan to expand the probe’s scope following an effort to get pro-Trump Fox News host Sean Hannity in addition to Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA.) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH.) to appear before the panel. However, it appears as though the men have given the request the cold shoulder as still, no signal indicates their intention to follow through.
NPR also reported that Thompson hadn’t eliminated the possibility of requesting other witnesses in the former President’s inner circle –– including Trump’s daughter and advisor Ivanka Trump –– appear before the committee. Saying that they were “open to anyone coming voluntarily to the committee” but didn’t rule out using subpoenas if a “person’s participation is important.”
